The IVF Fertility Blog

Men play an equal role in having a baby. Healthy, active, mobile sperm are necessary for fertilization of a woman's naturally produced egg every month. Sperm motility, or the way the sperm move, is a key factor in male infertility. As a part of fertility testing, the sperm will be thoroughly examined to determine how sperm and motility are impacting the couple’s overall chances of conceiving a baby.

Sperm Motility and Male Fertility

Motility is the sperm's ability to move through a woman’s reproductive system and reach her egg. Sperm with abnormal movement will have difficulty reaching an egg. Furthermore, in the event that the sperm make it to the egg, penetrating the egg will be difficult, if not impossible.

A sperm analysis is performed to determine motility. During the test, the fertility team is looking for sperm that move forward quickly. Sperm that swim in circles or that move too slow are thought of as having poor motility. It is understood that not all sperm cells will move correctly. However, if less than 32 percent of the sperm are not moving correctly, the man is considered to have low motility.

Addressing Issues with Sperm and Motility

In many cases, lifestyle changes can improve sperm motility. By adopting healthy living habits, a man can improve their overall and reproductive health.

Simple lifestyle changes to consider include:

Eating healthy, well balanced meals

Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight for their height

Taking a daily multivitamin

Stopping the use of seat warmers in your car

Avoiding hot baths and hot tubbing

Avoiding contact between the testes and electronics (cellphones, laptops, etc.)

Reducing bike riding

Ceasing the use of tobacco

Having frequent intercourse to stimulate the body to produce more sperm

Should these measures not work, an ancillary procedure used in conjunction with IVF known as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is typically recommended to facilitate the fertilization of the egg by sperm. ICSI is commonly used during IVF treatment and works by injecting a single sperm cell directly into an egg that has been retrieved surgically. ICSI facilitates fertilization.

More Resources About Male Fertility

To find out how your partner’s sperm motility is impacting his fertility, speak with a member of the New Hope Fertility Center team today. Please click the link below to enter your information and New Hope will contact you, or simply call 917.525.5496 to schedule a consulation.